Ground leveler



March 23, 1954 c c, GODDARD 2,672,702

GROUND LEVELER Filed Oct. 30, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet l Clarence GGdaZZZ y Q 1' WWW; lv flmmgg m 0. c. GODDARD Match 23, 1954 GROUND LEVELER 1W eat 3 Filed Oct. 50, 1946 I I lweutor Elam ce [Zfim tmmeys Patented Mar. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GROUND LEVELER Clarence C. Goddard, Tucumcari, N. Mex. Application October 30, 1946, Serial No. 706,721 2 Claims. (Cl. 37-180) The present invention relates to a novel and useful improvement in soil working machinery and more specifically pertains to a ground leveler or scraping device which may be attached to a conventional tractor.

The principal objects of my invention reside in providing an attachment which may be quickly attached to or removed from a conventional type of farm or other tractor; which has a novel and improved scraper or blade construction; wherein the blade is directly carried by and is adjustable with the attachment frame; wherein suitable manual adjusting means for controlling the elevation of the blade are provided; wherein power operating means are arranged for elevation of the attachment frame and blade as desired; and wherein an improved leveling or steadylng front end support for the attachment frame is provided.

These, together with various auxiliary objects of the invention, which will later become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds, are realized by my invention, one embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the attached drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing the attachment applied to a conventional type of tractor;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of the construction shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of a detail of the fastening means for attaching the frame to the axle of the tractor;

Figure 6 is a side elevationalview of the front castor and runner of the invention; and,

Figures 7 and 8 are perspective detail views of portions of the invention.

Reference is now made more specifically to the attached drawings, wherein similar reference numerals indicate similar parts throughout the various views and wherein the numeral l0 designates generally a conventional type of tractor to which my invention may be applied. As will be understood, this tractor can be a conventional type of road working tractor or may be comprised of a tractor adapted for use about a farm or the like. As shown, the tractor is provided with an axle assembly l2, a radiator grille or guard 14 which is suitably mounted upon a lower frame member It. In accordance with the dictates of this invention, I provide a frame work indicated generally at I8 which may consist of conventional structural members united to form an open frame work and comprising an attachment adapted for ready engagement with or disengagement from the tractor I0. As shown best in Figure 1, the frame [8 has a central body portion indicated generally at 20 and which is generally rectangular in both top plan and cross-section and from which extend rearward and forward end portions 22 and 24, these portions being angularly inclined downwardly from the body portion 20 and being of triangular shape upon both their top and sides with castor wheels 26 and 28 journaled upon their apex portions.

As shown more clearly in Figure 2, the frame I 8 has a cross-bar 30 extending transversely thereof at the junction point of the portions 22 and 20, and hinged to the mid portion of said cross-bar as by means of lugs 32, are a pair of inclined divergent brace rods 34 whose opposite ends are de tachably connected to lugs 36 carried by the axle member I2.

The forward end of the tractor is provided with a pair of triangular support brackets 38, one being attached on each side of the tractor frame members 16 as by means of suitable fastening bolts 40. At the upper end of the triangular support brackets 38 are pivotally mounted as at 39 a pair of connecting links 42 whose outward ends converge as at 44 for pivotal engagement upon a cross-bar 46. The latter has a pair of links 4| pivoted thereto and to a cross-bar 43 secured to a pair of uprights 48 forming a part of the frame l8. At the lower end of the brackets 38, a similar pair of connecting links 50 are pivoted at and their forward ends likewise converge inwardly and are pivoted to a cross-rod 55 extending between the vertical frame members 48 and secured thereto by a short link 49 pivoted at each extremity. The pivotal connection of the links 49 to the members 48 is by a cross-bar 53. As will be understood, the lower connecting rods or links 50 are similar in construction and arrangement to the upper rods or links 42. By means of the foregoing, it will be readily understood that the attachment frame work I8 has a two-point contact with the ground by means of the castors 26 and 28, and is pivoted at the rear of the tractor by means of the brace rods 34, and at the front of the tractor by means of the parallel oscillatinglinks or rods 42 and 50.

A power means is provided for relatively oscillating in a vertical manner the frame I 3 upon the tractor ill. This means, as shown best in Figure 3, is constituted by a bracket 52 fixed in any suitable manner to the radiator grille or guard i4, and pivotally sup-porting at its upper end a horizontally disposed link 54. At its outer end, link 54 is pivotally connected as by a pin 56 with a bracing member 580i the frame l8, whereby oscillating motion of the link 54 will elevate or 3 lower the frame work l8 relative to the tractor [0. Intermediate its ends, link 54 is pivotally connected as at 60 with the actuating member of a hydraulic actuating unit indicated generally at B2 and which may be of conventional design, and which is supplied with pressure fluid either pneumatic or hydraulic, by means of a flexible conduit 64 connected to a"hydraulic power-takeoff o'f'the' tractor 10 and controlled in any suitable manner not shown. A support bracket BI .is

secured to the radiator grill or frame of"the tractor and supports the cylinder 62 byfiarpivotal connection 63. I y

A ground working blade B'Ej-whichnfaybe of any suitable type such as avscraper; scoop on the like, is disposed transversely of the tractor and its frame 18, and is pivotally mounted-upon the tractor axles by means of a pair of arms 68 pivrm atallyasecured as at 70-. a detachable: clamp 72 engagingrthe=axlesho'using il2 orttheftractor A pair ef-connecting :linksi'l 4z-are' pivotally connects d fidithl: scraper :blade 6 diand iatftheirl. upper ends l are ipivotediiu-pon the 'tfiicarried' by th'efilink 54'; Flt:\ /i11tthusib'e seen ithatewh'en the hydraulic c'ylinder fizisiaotu'atedi resultingtinzaraising of thewfrontnend or fthekrframe l8;. the': connecting links1.]41'simultaneouslyielevate tli'e bla'de 66, as

desired. lmManual nper'ating means is ialso'f'provid'ed for vertically adjusting 'the blatle t fi relative to the carrying-,cframe I831? For anexplanation of'this t constructions "attention is now directedchiefiy -t'o-=E'igu'r esi 3 land-:4; wherein: a; supporting bracket 6 sis amounted any siiitable rrianner and :locaitionup'orntl'rerlportion of the -frame 25] and has pivoted thereon a manually actuatable'lever l8 mechanism ofvnranyl' conventional?"idesigrif The 5 lever :1airs rigidlyuattaclied to an "operating shaft E'BHWhiChV-IIEtSi'ld suitably plo'sitioned lifting arm 182 whose iouteriendi poiition fillvlis bifurcated and as"pivoted: itherebetwe'en 'a' collai 86 having a entra'llyrdisposedfaperture '88- and lateral1yex- :tending .ipifintles 90*:: for :"engagement"with" the bifurcations 84 ;-l iTheu construction of the-collar as bee'n-l elearlyishown Figure 8'. 1 Extending 'hroughi thezzaperture 8 8 isi a 'fserew -threaded rod '9 21 iadjustabl'yzir'etai'nedttherei'n as byalfastening nt' 94,-: -thefa'djustingvrod -being" ipivoted by an ye in?- the lowerz end thereof as 96 towa pair of onnecting 'nks alfwhichiisupport ia' laterally extendingfrodi lMf'fromIwhose butlerextremities epend'i connectingvrrods'i I02 iwhich' are" pivoted ito theabladeazarm 58 as are I94? From he foregoing, it"will-be?se'enxthatproper-manipulation of h'eelever I aiwilli cause ttie rraising' on-lowering of the blade tfiiirelative to the'ffraniework 1' 8; and the i'arnplitude': of this adj ustment may beva'ried byiproper 1 manipulation of l the' screw threaded red 92; and fastening. nut 54. l fltteirtion'zisflnow directed more-specifically to .1gufeS.l1,!?2IEaHd 6,:wh'erein it 'wil l be seen 't'hat the'ifilOIlt TC'aStOIJ 2 Brhas j ournaled u on the castor axle I06 a runner sledl 08 which is spaced'or positionediiwi-th its lower. surface -s'lightly above the under surfacevof'the' castor roller! Thissledawill preferably: consist-"of an op'err frame r work a having asshown in Figurezl to ;forma plow or *cutting Ebladezal 12.2: By means of this runneriisled the o separation of: the blade is greatly improved, since -if theifront oastor 28- drops' intoiasslighti depression imthezground; theisledt m81-supports the rmf'rontiend rofs theaframe and-zahence ipr'eventsithe which risi'zretained' .in adjusteds' position by the elleknoiwnstoothed quadrant anddetent o'r latch parallel runners H whose forward: ends converge digging in of the blade 66 and thereby renders the device non-susceptible to small variations in the contour of the ground. At the same time,

the plow blade H2 at the forward end of the runner H18 serves to cut away a channel through any slight ridges encountered, and thereby tends ntorm aintain the framerlsland. theiscraper blade 66 at 11a zsubstantiallyfuniform le'vation. By

' "nieans 6f the front and rear ca'stors,-the support- 10. ing frame 18 becomes readily maneuverable with the tractor, as for turning, backing or the like.

flsn-ti'llhe manual adjusting means serves to position the blade fore any desired depth of cut as for ""'*"'levellingfiirrigating, dirt moving or other purmposes, while the hydraulic actuating means serves to lift the blade and the front end of the frame 'td'cl'e'ar the ground as when encountering unusual obstacles or when moving the machine from one i ta -grading: attachment 'fo'lfi'tlators dl'i flirisawmg aa-frame extending forwardly anuarearviardiy of a tractor, castors supporting/wile f roflt iand 1 rearends of said f rameg a pair Ur -"triangular support bracketsseciired t'o'the' 'frorit of lsaid tfactor I and extending" forwardlythereofy-upp eran'd lower "pairs of horizontal link's' pivotd to th upper and lo"iver ends of "academiaeraekets mr vertical movemennd eirten'ding foriffardly therefrom; means eperasnveiy connec'ti links to saidframe, ai scond bracket g upon 'the front of said tractorra niember'pivbted if to said br-a'ck'et for i vertical movement and extending horizontally and "forwardly therefrom, brace elements 0n-saidframe pivoted tdsaid rnemberfla hydraulic actuatiflgmeans"15ivotefi to said "member intermediate its"'ends, a?fl support fdr- 'said' hydraulic means "mounted" scams front if end of 'said-tractorrsaidhydraulicmeans being id adaptedto f" cause vertical movement 0 aid member and ofthe front end o'f tli'efi'ame relativeto the tractor, a'blade" extending" transversely "f of theframe, a pair of propelling "armspivdted to the axle 'of'said'tract 'or for'vertical movementiand attached to said blade a pair of.vertica;l"rods pivoted to-"said'b'lade and piifotedLat'theInQupper ends to'ithe'pivotal connectioiio f saidlrnember with said" b'race 'e1ement's'"for vertical movement f of said arms Land bladesfwitlifsaidineinbers and 9 frame, means'fadjilstably'connecting.sai 'lade tosaid"fi'arnelomiii'isin'gfa pair of; remandenients ea'cl'i""pivoted to' orfe' or sai'dll'arnisdnter- A mediate the ends oftthe"lattergland'fhaving at :'1theirl1pper" ends" 3111 ad jfis table. Iasteningimlaans 95 upon"'fsaid"*frameWherebyl e. bladelina'y be W variably*au usteuyertica1lyori idiffame.

2. Themcombinatiofi o'1"claiin-'1lwlierein'said -*me nssperanveiy-conneetin lsaiaiiunks .t'orsa-id "frame comprises upper and rower cross rods ply- "'oted"r'espectively tos'aidfupp'er anaiowenllpairs unhorizontmlIlinks, "i1ppr'landfllowerllpairs of vertical" :links "having their inner Jendspivoted espectivelyto theuppe'r" andlowercrossl-irods and havlng'theif' cuter? ends mete td sala frame. 1 CLARENCE CTIGODDARD. 

